REGULAR SEASON
| Winnipeg | 12-4 | 28-11 | Bruce Enns | ||
| Brandon | 11-5 | Jerry Hemmings | |||
| Lakehead | 11-5 | 22-8 | Don Punch | ||
| Manitoba | 6-10 | Dave Guss | |||
| Regina | 0-16 | 0-18 | Mike Frisby | ||
Playoff non-qualifiers:
Manitoba Bisons: Scott Craig, Greg Doull, Kevin Kelleher, Ted Fardoe, John Taylor, Randy Carr, Ed Tawkin, Jim Kentel, Garry Bulloch, Bruce Meyers, Brian Ottenbreit, Dan Snidal, Howie May, coach Dave Guss, assistant Martin Riley, assistant Rick Watts
Regina Cougars: Grant Giles, Glen Fekula, Dave Taylor, Ray Jacoby, John Kennedy, Dean Runge, Thom McInnis, Brian Buttray, Neil Dunning, Ken Bray, Brian Larrivee, Bob Wiens, Matt Landry, coach Mike Frisby, manager Lorne Armstrong
In the semis, Lakehead defeated Brandon 76-73 as John Zanatta scored 22. The game was tied at 38 at the half.
In the finals, Winnipeg d’d Lakehead 78-71; 90-79 (2g-0).
In the opener, Winnipeg defeated Lakehead 78-71 as Bob Magel scored 18, got a game-clinching steal and grabbed 6 boards. Lakehead coach Don Punch didn’t believe that Magel hadn’t been acknowledged on the league’s all-star team. Winnipeg was ahead 17-5 as Magel scored 8. Lakehead rallied back to take a 33-32 lead on an Al Tekoniemi jumper with 11 seconds to go in the first half. Winnipeg moved ahead 42-37 in the second half but then Dave Zanatta cut the margin to 71-69 with 1:26 to play by hitting a pair of free throws. But Winnipeg got four points from Ron Hutsal and three from Dan Kinaschuk to close in out. The Wesmen hit 2 2-25 from the line and Dan Kinaschuk masterfully controlled the pace of the game. Ken Opalko led Winnipeg with 18 points. Dan Kinaschuk scored 17 and Belaineh Deguefe 13. Dave Arsenault, a fifth-year American, led Lakehead with 19.
In game two, Winnipeg defeated Lakehead 90-79 to sweep the series as Belaineh Deguefe scored 27 and grabbed 16 boards. Bob Magel, who had sat out the entire 1978 season with bad grades and was benched during the season for berating officials, scored 14 and grabbed 16 boards. Dan Kinaschuk added 15 points and Jim Grisim 10. “They just wanted to win so badly,” said head coach Bruce Enns. “Sometimes we don’t play well enough to win and it’s that extra desire that pulls us through.” Lakehead coach Don Punch noted that Winnipeg “played with more intensity and were stronger.” John Zanatta led Lakehead with 24. Winnipeg out-rebounded Lakehead 62-26 and took total control of the game when they moved ahead 66-57 with eight minutes to go on a Deguefe dunk. The 6-7 Belaineh Terek Deguefe, born in Khartoum, Sudan, played at Winnipeg Kelvin and on the Canadian junior national team in the summers of 1979 and 1980.
The bronze medalist Brandon Bobcats: Keith Streiter; Jerry Abernathy; Dave Knutson; Lew Worrell; Bobby Dodds; Ben Szymkow; Rick DeGagne; Dave Knutson; Steve Noyes; Dino Gini; Mark Hogan; Lyn Milne; John Weber; Ron Hummelt; coach Jerry Hemmings; assistant Fred Lee; manager Gord Matheson
The runner-up Lakehead Thunderwolves: Dave Arsenault; John Zanatta; Richie Silvera; David Zanatta; Harry Van Laar; Al Tekoniemi; Dave Preus; Ned Janjic; Mike ‘Mitch’ Lalonde; Greg McLean; Sean Taylor; Jody Connor; Keith Dailey; Tom Binkley; Keith Dailey; David Poon Tip; coach Don Punch
The champion Winnipeg Wesmen: Ken Opalko; Belaineh Deguefe; Dan Kinaschuk; Bob Magel; Jim Grisim; Devon Dailey; Ron Hutsal; Brian Twomey; Gordie Paul; Ian Farrer; Roman Dobriansky; Don Jackson; coach Bruce Enns; assistant Aubrey Ferris; manager Ed Toews